Michigan secretary of state unveils new license plates for 2013 on top of Mackinac Bridge

MACKINAW CITY -- In one of the more unique unveilings in Michigan's recent history, Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson unveiled two new license plates atop the Mackinac Bridge's south tower Wednesday morning, showcasing the Pure Michigan tag campaign and its natural namesake.

Media and dignitaries including Sen. Howard Walker, R-Traverse City, were caravanned to the middle of the bridge and climbed the narrow ladder passageways and elevator to get to the bridge's tower platform in the early morning.

"Our team figured there was probably nothing better any place in the world that we know of than being able to show you a new plate that we've just come up with (here)," Johnson said, from her vantage 552-feet above the Straits of Mackinac.

The new Pure Michigan Mackinac Bridge plate features an orange skyline and sun setting over the northern St. Ignace shoreline, with the bridge prominently silhouetted in the foreground. The vanity license plate will cost an additional $5 and be available in 2013.

A second plain blue and white standard plate will replace current free issued licenses in Michigan.

Johnson said she wants Michigan residents to use the new Mackinac Bridge depiction as a way to market Michigan on their travels throughout the nation.

"For $5, you can be a billboard around this state and around the country when you drive with this new plate on your cars," she said. Each standard license will have the state website, www.michigan.org, on the bottom.

Michigan's last two vanity plates "Spectacular Peninsulas" and the standard "blue bar" plates were issued in 2007 and more than 6.9 million are estimated to be in circulation. The plate before that was a standard navy blue and was in place for 24 years, according to the Secretary of State's Office.